Produced by: Tarun Mishra
On May 8 and 9, Earth was struck by one of the strongest solar storms in over two decades. The storm, caused by seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, threatened both Earth and its surrounding infrastructure, including satellites.
This event echoed a similar occurrence in February 2022, when over 35 SpaceX's Starlink satellites fell back to Earth after a geomagnetic storm hit them just days after their launch.
The solar storm impacted spacecraft around both Earth and the Moon. India's fleet of over 50 operational satellites faced potential jeopardy due to the increased plasma and material from the Sun.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was on high alert. The Master Control Facility (MCF) in Karnataka's Hassan and Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal played a critical role in monitoring and safeguarding the satellites.
MCF's responsibilities include initial orbit raising, in-orbit payload testing, and continuous satellite operations. The team kept a close watch on any signs of geomagnetic disturbances.
As the storm approached, ISRO noticed subtle changes in satellite behaviour, such as variations in momentum wheel speeds and electrical currents. The team made necessary adjustments to maintain stability.
ISRO proactively deactivated certain sensors to protect critical systems. These measures ensured that the network of 30 geostationary satellites and Earth observation satellites continued functioning without disruption.
Despite the storm's intensity, the Navigation Centre reported no significant degradation in the NaVIC service metrics, indicating minimal to no impact on the navigation services.
ISRO's swift and precise actions during the solar storm exemplified their readiness to protect India's space assets, ensuring the continued functionality and stability of the nation's satellite infrastructure.